“I am — excuse my French — fucked,” director Tony Kayesaid last summer about the state of his career. It certainly hasn’t been easy going for the filmmaker, who clashed with the star and studio of his debut picture, "American History X," in 1998, and ever since found himself working intermittently, completing the 2006 documentary “Lake Of Fire,” and the 2011 drama “Detachment,” while his thriller "Black Water Transit" is still stuck in legal limbo following Capitol Films going under.

“I am in jail. I am totally in jail,” Kaye added. “I have this crazy reputation, which I nurtured. I thought you had to be arrogant and awful. I have learned a lot over the years about process, and how to conduct myself with collaborators within the collective of making a movie, and how to be caring about the pain of others, and not to live in a realm of desire for the self alone. I’m hoping I can turn all of my mistakes into the best third act.” And it looks like he’s getting his shot.

The director announced today on Facebook that he’s got a new feature in the works, "Stranger Than The Wheel," with Shia LaBeouf slated to star. Penned by Joe Vinciguerra ("Don’t Go In The Woods"), the script has been knocking around Hollywood for years (way, way back in 2000, it had Dennis Quaidattached to star), but the material sounds good. The drama tracks a young man who revisits his past, and his relationship with this abusive father. According to Showbiz 411, that latter role might be filled by Alec Baldwin, which would be interesting, considering that he didn’t exactly see eye-to-eye with LaBeouf on the set of the Broadway production of "Orphans" a few years back. And a set with Kaye, LaBeouf, and Baldwin sounds like a potential powder keg…or perhaps the right mix for something great.

According to Kaye, the project is currently "on the go," and he’s got final cut as well. I’m certainly intrigued to see how this one turns out.

You know something I just saw made my heart sing. DETACHMENT has been included in the "ALL TIME CLASSICS" on iTunes – We…